World’s first tunable nonlinear photonic chip targets quantum use

Researchers from NTT Research, Cornell University, and Stanford University have developed the world’s first programmable nonlinear photonic waveguide, a breakthrough device capable of switching between multiple optical functions on a single chip. This innovation challenges the traditional “one device, one function” limitation in photonics, where devices are fixed to a single task during fabrication. By using a silicon nitride core and projecting structured light patterns onto the chip, the device dynamically creates programmable regions of optical nonlinearity, enabling rapid reconfiguration of its optical functions. Demonstrated capabilities include arbitrary pulse shaping, tunable second-harmonic generation, holographic generation of spatio-spectrally structured light, and real-time inverse design of nonlinear-optical functions. The technology promises significant impacts across optical and quantum computing, communications, and tunable light sources by reducing costs, improving manufacturing yields, and enabling more compact, power-efficient optical systems. This flexibility is particularly valuable for quantum computing, where programmable quantum light sources and frequency converters can enhance